Distributor for bituminous and like material



Feb. 24, 1953 G. M. ETNYRE 2,629,629

DISTRIBUTOR FOR BITUMINOUS AND LIKE MATERIAL Filed Aug. 11, 1949 2SHEETSSHEET 1 2; 2s 33- as o 52 (9? 0 a9) *32 -9 Q NVEN'TQM Geo ge m.61: h ve. 27 g 1 I aaflfiwgs lflrye Feb. 24, 1953 G. M. ETNYRE 2,629,629

DISTRIBUTOR FOR BITUMINOUS AND LIKE MATERIAL Filed Aug. 11, 1949 2SHEETS--SHEET 2 George g- L,v'

4* M WW: 1474 TTORNIZL Patented Feb. 24, 1953 DISTRIBUTOR FORBITUIWINOUS AND LIKE MATERIAL George M. Etnyre, Oregon, 111.

Application August 11, 1949, Serial No. 109,756

14 Claims. 1

The invention relates to mobile apparatus for distributing bituminousand like materials such as asphalt, road oil, tar and emulsions employedin the construction and maintenance of roads and other traffic carryingsurfaces.

In apparatus of the above general character, the distribution ofmaterial over the traflic surface is effected through the medium of anelongated distributor bar supported above and parallel to that surf-aceand disposed transversely of the path traveled by the vehicle uponwhichit is carried. Such distributor bars are provided with a series oflongitudinally spaced outlets equipped with spray nozzles for insuringuniformity of distribution. The outlets, of course, are equipped withvalveswhich are interconnected for actuation by a main valve controllerso that distribution can be started and stopped at will. The material tobe distributed is carried in a tank provided on the vehicle and issupplied to the distributor bar under pressure by means of a powerdrivenpump.

\ Distributor bars supplied for road construction and maintenance aremade to spray th material over a strip of fixed width, which for examplemay be the full normal width or a fraction, such as half the wid-th'ofthe roads on which they are to be used. Toadapt a bar for use on roadsof narrower width than that for which it was designed, the outlets ofone end of the bar may be plugged or the valves for such outlets-may bedisconnected from the actuatingmechanism and secured in closed position.In either ease the width' of the sprayed area is, in effect, permanentlyfixed.

In present day road construction the straight sections are usuallyfinished with a traffic surface of uniform width, while substantiallywider traffic surfaces are provided on curves and approachingintersections. Such wider sections cannotbe covered ina single pass ofthe distributor when the distributor bar thereof is set to properlyspraythe road sections of normal width. It would obviously be wastefulof time and material totake a distributor over the wider se ctions asecond time, particularly. as: in 1 most eases there would neces sari1ybe a substantial .overlapping of the sprayed areas. -;;Specifi;cationsgovernin road construction and maintenance are usually very rigid in sofar as they relate to the uniformity of material applied per unit areaof road oro-ther traflic surface. Any. substantial variationfromthespecification, as for example .a double spraying of. the area.or. failure toapply the.required.apmiuntis often severely penalized.

It is therefore the custom to utilize manually op:- erated sprayequipment to apply material to the areas missed by the distributor inits initial pass. This manually-operated equipment may be supplied withmaterial either from an auxiliary-com nection with the main distributorsystem or from a portable auxiliary tank. Such manual spraying is timeconsuming and materially increases the cost of road work. Moreover, itis difficult to apply the material with the same uniformity obtained bymachine spraying.

With the above in view, one object of the invention is to providedistributing apparatusof the above general character which can bequickly and accurately adjusted while in motion to vary the width of thestrip to which material is applied while maintaining a substantiallyuniform application of material per unit area.

Another object is to provide an improved distributor bar constructionwhich permits the effective length of the bar and therefore the width ofthe strip covered thereby to be increased or decreased progressively inpredetermined increments. v

Another object is to provide an improved distributor bar element in thenature of an extension section which is readily applicable to con,-ventional distributor bars now in use and which particularly adapts thebar for use on roads or other traific surfaces of non-uniform width.

Still another object is to provide an improved valve organization forregulating the supplyof material tothe distributor bar.

A'further object is to provide an improved nozzle and control valveconstruction for distributor bars.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description of the preferred embodimentillusftrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

, Figure l is a partly diagrammatic perspective yiewof a distributorembodying the features of ,Fig. 2. is a fragmentary rear elevationalview of the distributor bar and the extension section. .Fig. 3 is atransverse sectional view of theextension section of the :bar taken in avertical plane substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

V Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the valve means forregulating the supply of material to the distributor bar.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of the extension bar section.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructional have shown in the drawings and will hereindescribe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understoodthat I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific formdisclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternativeconstructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

For purposes of illustration, the invention has been shown asincorporated in a distributor system of the general type disclosed inthe Etnyre Patent No. 2,046,373, granted July 7, 1936. In general, thissystem comprises an elongated tubular distributor bar I having aplurality of axially spaced valved outlets for the discharge of thefluid material to be distributed. Such material is supplied to the barl0 by a pump P which draws the material from a tank T and discharges itinto a conduit l I having branches l2 and I3 leading to opposite ends ofthe bar l0. Valves M provided in the branch conduits may be set so as toeffect the circulation of material through the bar in either directionand back to the tank through either of two return conduits E5 when theoutlets for the bar are closed. The tank T and associated apparatus arecommonly mounted on a truck or trailer chassis for mobility,distribution being effected by driving the vehicle over the surface tobe treated.

In the particular embodiment illustratd, the distributor bar It] isconstructed in three sections, namely, an intermediate section l6, andend sections IT. The latter are connected to the main section byfittings I8 which serve as hinge elements permitting the end sections tobe swung up or folded to a retracted position when the apparatus isbeing transported. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 1, the supplyconduit branches [2 are connected to the bar [0 through the medium ofthe fittings I 8.

In the exemplary distributor, the outlets for the main distributor barsection i6 and end sections I! are equipped with spray nozzles 26 (Fig.2). Ihese nozzles are mounted in pairs in T- shaped fittings 2|, each ofwhich includes a control valve 22 common to the two nozzles. Each valvehas an operating arm 23 projecting transversely of the distributor barand connected to a valve operating linkage 24 by which the valves may beopened or closed simultaneously to start or stop a spraying operation.This linkage is actuated by a manually operable controller such as ahand lever accessible to an operator riding on the vehicle, as forexample, on a control platform 25 located at the rear of the tank T.

In accordance with the invention, adjustability for spraying strips ofvarying width is attained by providing at one or both ends of thedistributor bar a series of valved auxiliary outlets or nozzles andvalve actuating mechanism operable to open the valves in succession andto close them in the reverse order so as to selectively andprogressively vary the number of outlets effective for the discharge ofmaterial.

In order to maintain uniformity of discharge, provision is also made forconcurrently varying the amount of material supplied to the distributorbar in accordance with the number of efiective outlets. Moreparticularly, provision is made for increasing or decreasing the amountof material delivered to the distributor bar in proportion to the numberof auxiliary outlets conditioned for operation. Controls are providedwhereby such adjustments may be effected from a point remote from thedistributor bar, perfer- 4 ably from the platform from which theoperation of the distributor bar is controlled.

While the auxiliary outlets may be provided in the distributor bar ifdesired, it is preferred to place them in an auxiliary bar section 26adapted to be connected to the extreme end portion of the bar. Theauxiliary bar section thus constitutes an extension of the distributorbar and receives material therefrom for distribution. In the case ofdistributor bars having folding end sections such as that shown in Fig.1, the auxiliary bar section is secured to the outer or free end of suchfolding end section.

In the preferred form shown in Figs. 1-3 of the drawings, the auxiliarybar section 26 comprises an elongated tubular body 2? closed at itsouter end and having a suitable coupling 28 at the other end forconnection with the distributor bar ll. Mounted on and projectingrearwardly from the body 21 are a series of T-sliaped nozzle fittings 39similar in shape and size to the fittings 2| and having two similarlydisposed outlets each equipped with a spray nozzle 20. The fittings 30are mounted so that the nozzles 26 are alined axially of the distributorbar with the nozzles of the fittings 2| and are uniformly spaced apartthe same distance as the other nozzles. Accordingly, uniformdistribution of material may be efiected over a strip having a widthvarying from the length of the distributor bar ID to the combined lengthof the distributor bar and the auxiliary bar section 26.

Each nozzle fitting 30 has a control valve 3| common to the two outletsof the fitting for opening or closing the outlets simultaneously. Inorder to adapt the fitting for the contemplated mode of operation, twoadditional valves 32 individual to the respective outlets or nozzles 20are provided. The valves 32 are of the rotary type each having anoperating member in the form of an arm 33 projecting transversely of thebar section. The valves 3| are also of the rotary type and haveoperating arms 34 all pivotally secured to a rod 35 which is coupled toand operable by the valve actuating linkage 24 for the distributor bar.Thus when the valves 52 are open, the outlets for the auxiliary barsection as well as those for the distributor bar may be opened or closedsimultaneously by appropriate manipulation of the actuating linkage 24.

Means is provided for operating the individual outlet valves 32 in apredetermined order to vary the number of outlets effective to dischargematerial or, in other words, to condition a selected number of outletsfor operation when the control valves 3| are opened. As it is desirableto apply the material to a continuous strip of surface, the valveoperating means is arranged so that the valves 32 are opened insuccession, starting from one end of the auxiliary bar section and areclosed in the reverse order. In the forms shown in Figs. 1-3 of thedrawings, the order of opening runs from the end of the auxiliary barsection adjacent the distributor bar.

The operating means for the valves 32 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3comprises a, member 40 supported for movement longitudinally of the barsection 26 and having an actuating element adapted to coact with thevalve arms 33 in succession in such movements. For this purpose the armsare terminated in spaced fingers defining an open-ended slot 42 adaptedto receive the element M which may conveniently comprise a cylindricalpin or stud projecting laterally from the member 40. The arrangement issuch that as the actuating member moves toward theouter end of the barsection (from left to' right as viewed in Fig. 2), the pin 4| enters theslot in the first arm 33 and rocks it in a clockwise direction from theclosed position to the open position in which the first three valves areshown. The pin then leaves the slot and engages each successive arm in asimilar manner. Upon return movement of the actuating member, the pincoacts with the arms in the same manner but rocks them in acounterclockwise direction to closed position.

In the exemplary embodiment, the valve actuating member 40 is supportedand guided by a track element in the form of an elongated flat bar 44mounted on and rigidly secured to the body 21. of the bar section.Grooved rollers 45 journaled on the member engage opposite side edges ofthe bar to retain the member in position while permitting it to ridefreely along the bar.

. To enable the operator, ofthe distributor to variably set the valvesof the bar section 26 while the distributor is in .motionand withoutrequiring him to leave the control platform, means is provided forshifting the valve actuating member 40 by remote control. While theshifting means may be of any suitable character, that shown hereincomprises a handwheel 46 (Fig. 1) fixed to a vertical shaft 4'!rotatably supported at the rear end of the distributor within convenientreach of the operator while standing on the platform 25. The shaft 41 isoperatively connected by bevel gears 48 and a telescoping jointed shaft49 with a shaft 50 extending fore and aft and overlying the intermediatesection of the distributor bar. At its rear end the shaft 50 is fittedwith a pinion 5i engaging a rack 52 supported and guided for endwisesliding movement longitudinally of the distributor bar. This rack isconnected by a rod 53 with the valve actuating member 40 as shown inFig. 2. A hinge 54 is provided between the rack 52 and rod 53 in thisinstance to avoid interference with the folding of the end section ofthe bar.

Ordinarily, an auxiliary bar section is required on only one end of thedistributor bar, namely, the end which projects to the right of thevehicle on which the bar is mounted. However, such auxiliary sectionsmay be provided at both ends of the bar if desired and in such caseanother operating rod 53 will be connected with the valve actuatingmember of such other auxiliary section through the medium of a rack 52arranged above the pinion 5| so as to properly coordinate the setting ofthe valves of both bar sections.

In distributor systems of the type shown, uniformity of distribution isattained by operating the pump P at a speed coordinated with the rate.of travel of the vehicle so that the pump delivers .liquid material tothe distributor bar in an amount effective to maintain a predeterminedflowthrough the spray nozzles. This material of course is divided upbetween the various spray nozzles and is applied uniformly over the surface traversed by the vehicle.

In accordance with the present invention, provision is made foradjusting the amount of material supplied to the distributor barconcurrently with the setting of the valves 32 of the auxiliary barsections so that uniformity of distributionis maintained regardlessofthe num- .maining open.

To eifect the foregoing adjustment of the material supply withoutchanging the pump setting or speed, valve means 55 (Figs. 1 and l) isinterposed between the pump'and the distributor bar and arranged so asto by-pass and returnto the supply tank T varying proportions of thematerial, depending upon the requirements of the system. The valve meansis mechanically interconnected with the valve actuating mechanism' sothat adjustment of the material supply is effected concurrently with thesetting of the valve 32 and as an incident to such setting.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, the by-pass valve means 55in its preferred form comprises an elongated tubular body 55 arranged inthis instance to project through the rear wall of the tank T. The valvebody has one end con}- nected as by a branch conduit 51 with the supplyconduit H leading from the pump P. A series of axially spaced dischargeports 56a in the valve body open into the tank T. These ports areadapted to be opened or closed progressively by a, valve member 58slidable axially within the body 56. Preferably the ports aredimensioned vso as to pass the same amount of material as a spray nozzleso that the opening of a port concurrently with the closure of a valve32 does not affect the flow of material through the other outlets of thedistributor bar.

Shifting of the valve member 58 is effected through the medium of a stem59 extending rearwardly of the valve body and having arack portion 59acoacting with a pinion 41a on the valve actuating shaft 41. It willbennderstood of course that the gearing is so proportioned that one ofthe discharge ports 56: is closed for each valve 32 openedoryice versa..When two auxiliary bar sections are installed, two of thelvalves 32 willbe opened or closed shnultaneouslyjand consequentlyit will be necessaryto close or; o en two of the ports 56a to maintain a uniform discharge.Accordingly, the supply of material delivered to the distributor bar isaccurately. proportioned at all times to the number of effective outletsor spray nozzles in use without any attentiononthepart of theyoperatorother than that involving the opening or closing of the In theoperation of a distributor equippedwi-th an extension bar of the typedescribed, the valves 32 are closed while treating a traflic surfaceor:roadof minimum width. When traversing the narrow sections of the roadthe vehicle is-driven so that theou-termost spray nozzle of thedistributor bar. is substantially alined with the outer edge of theroadway. The pump Pis operated to deliver more material to thedistributor bar than is required under those conditions and the excessmaterial is by-passed backto the tank T -tn htlievelre mean As theapparatus approaches atvidnai ga .ber.-ofiout1ets.in;.use.. Fonthispurpose the pump s iiprld 'f the. ir n-diverj beflphigegcgpignuegip astraight line, or, if the widened section is curved it continues in thesame relationship to, the center line of the. roadway as for thestraight section. Theopera'tor then manipulatesthe handwheel 46 to openthe valves 32 in: succession as required to gradually increase the widthof the sprayed strip until all of such valves are open. Concurrentlywith such valve setting the by-pass valve 55 is set so as toprogressively decrease the amount of material by-passed in proportion tothe numberofvalves remaining open.

On approaching the end of the widened section, the width of the stripcovered is decreased by progressively closing the valves 32. In suchclosing the by-pass valve 55 is progressively opened to maintainuniformity of discharge through the remaining eilective nozzles. Thusthe width of the strip covered by the apparatus may be increased ordecreased at will without affecting the uniformity of the distribution.Roadways or traific surfaces of irregular width can therefore be treatedefficiently and sprayed uniformly in a single pass of the apparatus.Control of the equipment is easily and conveniently effected by anoperator stationed at a point remote from the distributor-bar where heis well removed from the fumes and heat of the distributed material andmoreover is in the best position to observe and supervise the operationof the apparatus.

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of the auxiliary extension bar section inwhich the relative movements of the valve operating means and theindividual outlet valves are eflected by shifting the bar sectionaxially of the distributor bar. As herein shown, the auxiliary barsection comprises a pair of tubular members 68 and GI interconnected forcommunication and for relative longitudinal movement. The tubular member60 is connected to the end of the bar section H by a coupling 62. Thismember as shown, is equipped with two dual orifice fittings 2! similarto those of the main section of the distributor bar and having theircontrol valves 22 coupled directly to the linkage 24 for operationtherewith.

The member 6| is telescoped over a smaller tubular member 65 which opensat one end to the interior of the member 65 and. ext-ends axiallythrough a suitable packing gland in a cap 65 secured to the end of themember 6|. A pipe or conduit 6? opening from the other end of the member6! is slidable through a cap 68 closing the end of the member 66. A cap69 closes the outer end of the member 6 I. With this arrangement,material is supplied to both auxiliary bar members from the maindistributor bar.

The tubular body member 6| is provided with a series of outlets, four inthe present instance,

each equipped with a single nozzle fitting 1B having a shutoii valve 7!.The valve is of the rotary type and is operated through the medium of aforked arm 12 projecting transversely of the member. Operation of thevalves H to open or closed positions is eiiected as an incident to themovement of the tubular member 6| relative to the distributor bar. Inthis movement the operating arms 12 of the valves coact successivelywith a rigid bar 13 mounted on and projecting rearwardly from the cap68. The arrangement is such that as the tubular member BI is shifted toincrease the length of the distributor bar, the valves H are openedsuccessively and are closed in the reverse order when the member isretracted. V I v Shifting of the tubular member 6! may be effected bythe operating rod 53 and actuating means heretofore described, whichlikewise .operates the by-pass valve to vary the amount of materialsupplied in accordance with the number of the valves H'conditioned foroperation.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention providesdistributing apparatus of novel and advantageous construction forapplying material such as asphalt, road oil, tar or emulsions toroadways and other trafiic carrying surfaces. The provision of anextension bar section on the distributor bar, together with a novelvalve organization and actuating mechanism bar having a plurality ofoutlets each equipped with a valve operable to open or close the outlet,means operative to supply fluid material under pressure to said bar toestablish a predetermined fiow of material through said'outlets when allof said valves are open, actuating means operable to open and close saidvalves in progressive order, valve means settable to by-pass varyingamounts of material from said bar, said actuating means being operablyconnected to said valve means for varying the setting thereof as anincident to actuation of successive ones of said valves to progressivelyincrease the amount of material by-passed as said valves are closed andto correspondingly decrease the amount of material by-passed as saidvalves are opened.

2. In a distribution system of the character described, in combination,a tubular bar section adapted to be connected with and to receive liquidmaterial from a distributor bar, a series of axially spaced outlets forsaid bar section, a first series of valves each individually associatedwith one of the outlets, a second series of ,valves each associated withadjacent pairs of outlets, actuating means for opening and closing thevalves of said first series in succession, and other actuating means foropening and closing the valves of said second serie simultaneously.

3. In a distribution system of the character described, the combinationof an outer tubular bar section having a support member at one end forconnection with a main distributor bar, said bar section having a seriesof outwardly open spray nozzles spaced axially therealong andcommunicating with said section through individual fluid passageways, avalve for each of said passageways having a pivoted operating armextending transversely of the bar section, actuating means including amember movable longitudinally in opposite directions along said barsection, and an element carried by said member engageable with said armsin succession to fully open said valves in sequence in the relativemovement of said member in one direction, said element engaging saidarms to fully close the valves in reverse order in the return movementof said member.

4. In a distribution system of the character described, the combinationof a tubular bar section adapted to be connected to and to receivea'valve for-each outlet having an operating arm extending transverselyof the bar section, said arms being free of mechanical interconnectionswith each other, thus providing for operation of individual ones of saidvalves without changing the setting of adjacent valves, a valveactuating member having an element projecting laterally of the barsection for cooperation with said arms, said bar section and said memberbeing relatively movable axially of the bar section to engage saidelement with said arms in succession to cause opening of said valvessequentially from one end of said section to the other and closing ofsaid valves in the reverse order in response to such relative movementsin opposite directions, and

control means for relatively moving said bar sec-' tion and said member.

5. In a distributor system of the character described, in combination,an elongated-bar section having a coupling at one end for connectionwith a distributor bar,;a series of nozzle elements carried by said barsection, each of said elements having a pair of discharge nozzles spacedapart axially of the barsection and connecting therewith, a controlvalve for each pair of nozzles, a shut-off valve for each individualnozzle, actuating means for operating said control valvessimultaneously, and other actuating means for operating said shut-offvalves in a predetermined order of succession.

6. In a distributor system of the character described, the combinationof a distributor bar having a plurality of axially spaced outlets, avalve for each outlet operable to open or close the outlet, a shiftableactuator operable upon movement in one direction to open said valves insuccession and upon movement in the other direction to close said valvesin the reverse order, means for supplying liquid material under pressureto said bar, and means operated concurrently with the shifting of saidactuator for regulating the amount of material supplied to the bar.

'7. In a distributor system of the character described, the combinationof a distributor bar having a plurality of axially spaced outlets, avalve for each outlet operable to open or close the outlet, a shiftableactuator operable upon movement in one direction to open said valves insuccession and upon movement in the other direction to close said valvesin the reverse order, a constant delivery pump connected to deliverfluid material under pressure to said bar, a bypass valve interposedbetween said pump and said bar, and means for opening and closing saidby-pass valve progressively in response to the shifting of said actuatorrespectively in valve opening and valve closing directions.

8. In a mobile system for distributing fluid material, in combination, adistributor bar having a series of valved outlets, actuating meansoperable to open and close the valves of said outlets in progressiveorder, a pump connected to supply fluid material under pressure to saidbar, a by-pass valve for controlling th amount of fluid supplied to thebar, said valve having an elongated tubular body communicating with theconnection between said pump and said bar, said body having a series ofaxially spaced bypass ports, and a valve member shiftable axially ofsaid body by said actuating means to close and open said ports inprogressive order.

9. In a translatable distributor system for applying a liquid coating toa road surface or the like, the combination of means for supplying 10coating fluid under pressure, an elongated distributor bar sectionconnected to said means and including an outer tube having a pluralityof axially spaced spray nozzles communicating with I said tube andopening outwardly therefrom to associated ones of said nozzles from oneend of.

saidtube to the other and sequential closing of said valves in reverseorder, and by-pass means communicating with said fluid supply means andoperable as an incident to opening and closing of successive ones ofsaid valves to maintain an unvarying flow of fluid through open ones.ofsaid valves and, hence, associated ones of said nozzles}.-

10. In a distributor system for applying .a,liq-,

uid coating to aroad surface or the like, theicom- ,bination of meansfor supplying coating-fluid under pressure, an elongated distributor barsec tion connected to said means and including an outer tube having aplurality of axially spaced spray nozzles communicating with said tubethrough fluid passageways and opening outwardly from the tube to directspray toward the surface to be coated, a plurality of shut-off valvesinterposed in said respective fluid passageways, each of said valveshaving an individual operator therefor, said operators being operableindependently of each other, and a common actuator for said valvesarranged to shift said operators successively to effect sequentialopening of said valves and, hence, associated ones of said nozzles fromone end of said tube to the other and sequential closing of said valvesin reverse order.

11. For use in a distributor system having a main distributor barsupplied by a source of pressurized coating fluid for applying a liquidcoating to a road surface or the like, an elongated distributor barsection for variably increasing the width of the swath coated by asingle pass of the distributor system, said bar section comprising, incombination, an elongated outer tube having fluid coupling means on oneend thereof for connecting the tube to one end of the main distributorbar, a plurality of fluid spray nozzles spaced longitudinally along saidtube and communicating therewith through fluid passageways, said nozzlesbeing freely open outwardly of said tube to direct spray toward thesurface to be coated, a plurality of shut-01f valves interposed in saidrespective fluid passageways, each of said valves having an individualoperator therefor, and a common actuator for said valves disposedalongside said bar section and arranged to actuate said operatorssuccessively to effect sequential opening of said valves and associatedones of said nozzles from said one end of said tube to the other and tocause closing of said valves and nozzles in reverse order.

12. For use in a distributor system having a main distributor barsupplied by a source of pressurized coating fluid for applying a liquidcoating to a road surface or the like, an elongated distributor barsection for variably increasing the width of the swath coated by asingle pass of the distributor system, said bar section comprising, incombination, an elongated outer tube having coupling means thereon forconnecting the tube to the source of pressurized coating fluid, aplurality of openings spaced longitudinally along said tube, a shut-offvalve associated with each of said openings to selectively cause openingand closing thereof, fluid spray nozzles connected to said respectiveopenings and being freely open outwardly of said tube to direct spraytoward the surface to be coated, each of said valves having anindividual actuator thereon, said actuators being operable independentlyof each other, an operator arranged to operate said actuatorssuccessively to effect sequential opening of said valves and associatedones of said nozzles from said one end of said tube to the other and tocause closing of said valves and nozzles in reverse order.

13. A distributor system as set forth in claim 4 characterized by saidcontrol means being operatively connected to said bar section forcausing movement thereof to produce said relative movement between saidsection and said valve actuating member.

14. The combination set forth in claim 9 and comprising, in addition, amain distributor bar disposed in generally parallel alinement with saidbar section, and operating means connected to said bar section forcausing axial extension thereof into positions projecting varyingdistances beyond said main bar, and said actuator serving to open saidvalves in succession and to close the valves in reverse order uponextension and retraction of said section.

GEORGE M. ETNYRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

